'''Color:''' There is evidence that this space was originally wallpapered; today painted oyster white

'''Color:''' There is evidence that this space was originally wallpapered; today painted oyster white

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'''Purpose of Room:''' Held Jefferson's libraries, the largest of which consisted of more than 6,000 books and was sold to Congress in 1815 after its building and collection were damaged by the British in 1814, forming the nucleus of the Library of Congress

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'''Purpose of Room:''' Held [[Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson's]] libraries, the largest of which consisted of more than 6,000 books and was [[Library of Congress Sale|sold to Congress in 1815]]

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'''Architectural features:''' Part of a "suite" of private rooms used by Jefferson, comprised of the Library, the Greenhouse, the Cabinet, and Jefferson's Bedroom; the plan based on an octagon, a favored architectural shape for Jefferson

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'''Architectural features:''' Part of a "suite" of private rooms used by Jefferson, comprising the Library, [[Southeast Piazza (Greenhouse)|the Greenhouse]], the [[Cabinet]], and Jefferson's [[Bedchamber|Bedroom]]; the plan based on an octagon, a favored architectural shape for Jefferson

'''Furnishings of Note:''' [[:Category:Books |Books]] (most of the books in Monticello today represent the same titles but not the original books Jefferson owned); book boxes stacked as bookshelves (today, reproductions are shown); an octagonal filing table, with drawers labeled for alphabetical filing; the easy chair which Jefferson, according to tradition, used while vice president; Jefferson's desk used for reading, writing, or drawing.

'''Furnishings of Note:''' [[:Category:Books |Books]] (most of the books in Monticello today represent the same titles but not the original books Jefferson owned); book boxes stacked as bookshelves (today, reproductions are shown); an octagonal filing table, with drawers labeled for alphabetical filing; the easy chair which Jefferson, according to tradition, used while vice president; Jefferson's desk used for reading, writing, or drawing.

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==Objects on Display in this Room==

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*[[Battle at Bunker's Hill (Engraving)]]

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*[[Aime Jacques Alexandre Bonpland (Silhouette)]]

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*[[Book Boxes]]

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*[[Anthony Fothergill (Silhouette)]]

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*[[Edmond Charles Edouard Genet (Physiognotrce)]]

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*[[Surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown (Painting)]]

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*[[Tall Easy Chair]]

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*[[Thomas Jefferson "Medallion Profile" (Painting)]]

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==Primary Source References<ref> Please note that this list should not be considered comprehensive.</ref>==

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'''1796.''' (Isaac Weld). "A large apartment is laid out for a library and museum, meant to extend the entire breadth of the house, the windows which are to open into an extensive green house and aviary."<ref>[[Short Title List|Peterson, ''Visitors'']], 19.</ref>

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'''1800 November 25.''' (Jefferson to [[Thomas Mann Randolph]]). "It [catalog of books] is lying I believe either on the table in my book room, or under the window by the red couch in the Cabinet."<ref>[[Short Title List|''PTJ'']], 32:259.</ref>

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'''1802 September 21.''' (Mrs. William Thornton). "Mr. Thornton arrived this morning-went into the Library which is very extensive, and said to be one of the best private Libraries on the continent..."<ref>[http://lccn.loc.gov/mm80042895 Papers of William Thornton.] Library of Congress.</ref>

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'''1804-1805.''' (Sir Augustus John Foster). "On the ground floor were four sitting rooms, two bed rooms and the library, which contained several thousand volumes classed according to subject and language...In Mr. Jefferson's library there was a picture representing battle, painted by one of the Big-bellied tribe of Indians...If the library had been thrown open to guests, the President's country house would have been as agreeable a place to stay at as any I know, but it was there he sat and wrote and he did not like of course to be disturbed by visitors who in this part of the world are rather disposed to be indiscreet."<ref>[[Short Title List|Peterson, ''Visitors'']], 38-39.</ref>

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'''1806 January 31.''' (Jefferson to James Ogilvie). "I had understood that Mr. Randolph had directed that you should have the free use of the Library at Monticello or I should have directed it myself. I have great pleasure in finding an opportunity of making it useful to you."<ref>[http://lccn.loc.gov/mm76027748 Papers of Thomas Jefferson]. Library of Congress.</ref>

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'''1806 November 30.''' (Jefferson to [[Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge]]). "Mr. Burwell asks in the name of your Mama, a Nautical almanac. She will find those of many years in the library at Monticello, in the press on the right hand of the Eastern outward door of the cabinet.<ref>[[Short Title List|''Family Letters'']], 291.</ref>

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'''1808 February 26.''' (Jefferson to [[Thomas Mann Randolph]]). "...you will find it in one of the 3. or 4. volumes of MS. laws in the bottom part of the press on the right of the N.E. window of my bookroom."<ref>[http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0031 Massachusetts Historical Society]</ref>

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'''1809.''' (Margaret Bayard Smith). "When we descended to the hall, he asked us to pass into the Library, or as I called it his sanctum sanctorum, where any other feet than his own seldom intrude. This suite of apartments opens from the Hall to the south. It consists of 3 rooms for the Library...The library consists of books in all languages, and contains about twenty thousand vols, but so disposed that they do not give the idea of a great library."<ref>[[Short Title List|''First Forty Years,'']], 71.</ref>

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'''1809.''' (George Gilmer). "Mr. Jefferson's library-room was locked, but the window-blinds were thrown back, so that I could see several books turned open upon the table, the ink stand, paper, and pens, as they had been used when Mr. Jefferson quitted home."<ref>George Gilmer, [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/17330607&ht=edition ''Sketches of some of the First Settlers of Upper Georgia, of the Cherokees, and the Author.''] (New York: 1855), 242.</ref>

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'''1815.''' (George Ticknor). "On Sunday morning, after breakfast, Mr. Jefferson asked me into his library, and there I spent the forenoon of that day as I had that of yesterday. This collection of books, now so much talked about, consists of about seven thousand volumes, contained in a suite of fine rooms..."<ref>[[Short Title List|Peterson, ''Visitor,'']], 63.</ref>

Architectural features: Part of a "suite" of private rooms used by Jefferson, comprising the Library, the Greenhouse, the Cabinet, and Jefferson's Bedroom; the plan based on an octagon, a favored architectural shape for Jefferson

Furnishings of Note:Books (most of the books in Monticello today represent the same titles but not the original books Jefferson owned); book boxes stacked as bookshelves (today, reproductions are shown); an octagonal filing table, with drawers labeled for alphabetical filing; the easy chair which Jefferson, according to tradition, used while vice president; Jefferson's desk used for reading, writing, or drawing.

1796. (Isaac Weld). "A large apartment is laid out for a library and museum, meant to extend the entire breadth of the house, the windows which are to open into an extensive green house and aviary."[2]

1800 November 25. (Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph). "It [catalog of books] is lying I believe either on the table in my book room, or under the window by the red couch in the Cabinet."[3]

1802 September 21. (Mrs. William Thornton). "Mr. Thornton arrived this morning-went into the Library which is very extensive, and said to be one of the best private Libraries on the continent..."[4]

1804-1805. (Sir Augustus John Foster). "On the ground floor were four sitting rooms, two bed rooms and the library, which contained several thousand volumes classed according to subject and language...In Mr. Jefferson's library there was a picture representing battle, painted by one of the Big-bellied tribe of Indians...If the library had been thrown open to guests, the President's country house would have been as agreeable a place to stay at as any I know, but it was there he sat and wrote and he did not like of course to be disturbed by visitors who in this part of the world are rather disposed to be indiscreet."[5]

1806 January 31. (Jefferson to James Ogilvie). "I had understood that Mr. Randolph had directed that you should have the free use of the Library at Monticello or I should have directed it myself. I have great pleasure in finding an opportunity of making it useful to you."[6]

1806 November 30. (Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge). "Mr. Burwell asks in the name of your Mama, a Nautical almanac. She will find those of many years in the library at Monticello, in the press on the right hand of the Eastern outward door of the cabinet.[7]

1808 February 26. (Jefferson to Thomas Mann Randolph). "...you will find it in one of the 3. or 4. volumes of MS. laws in the bottom part of the press on the right of the N.E. window of my bookroom."[8]

1809. (Margaret Bayard Smith). "When we descended to the hall, he asked us to pass into the Library, or as I called it his sanctum sanctorum, where any other feet than his own seldom intrude. This suite of apartments opens from the Hall to the south. It consists of 3 rooms for the Library...The library consists of books in all languages, and contains about twenty thousand vols, but so disposed that they do not give the idea of a great library."[9]

1809. (George Gilmer). "Mr. Jefferson's library-room was locked, but the window-blinds were thrown back, so that I could see several books turned open upon the table, the ink stand, paper, and pens, as they had been used when Mr. Jefferson quitted home."[10]

1815. (George Ticknor). "On Sunday morning, after breakfast, Mr. Jefferson asked me into his library, and there I spent the forenoon of that day as I had that of yesterday. This collection of books, now so much talked about, consists of about seven thousand volumes, contained in a suite of fine rooms..."[11]